Tigers back in groove

STOCKTON - The Pacific women's basketball team finds itself in a Sweet 16, even if its not the one the players and coaches had dreamed about.

Jagdip Dhillon

STOCKTON - The Pacific women's basketball team finds itself in a Sweet 16, even if its not the one the players and coaches had dreamed about.

The Tigers (27-7) have advanced to the third round of the WNIT and will host Utah (20-13) at 6 p.m. today at Spanos Center. Coach Lynne Roberts said her team seems fully recovered from missing out on an NCAA Tournament berth because of a loss to Cal Poly in the Big West Tournament final.

"There was definitely a funk that hit, but this group has really bounced back," Roberts said. "It really helps to play at home because that put some wind in our sails."

Pacific won its opening round game 69-65 over Arkansas-Little Rock at home Friday before traveling to Seattle to defeat Washington 85-78 in a second-round contest Sunday. The Utes are another Pac-12 hardened foe that handled Long Beach State (56-49) and San Diego (61-50) to get a shot at the Tigers. The winner will likely host Saint Mary's on Saturday.

Roberts said Utah coach Anthony Levrets likes to slow things down and take advantage of his size down low with 6-foot-4 junior Michelle Plouffe (16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds) and 6-3 junior Taryn Wicicjowski (14.4, 6.8) leading the way.

"They're different than us, and I'm very impressed with their post play because their bigs can do it all," Roberts said. "They like to slow it down, but we're going to try to do what we're good at, which is speed up the tempo."

Sophomore center Kendall Kenyon will have to play a key role for the Tigers, as she's snapped out of a slump after three subpar games in Anaheim to post two double-doubles in the WNIT. The St. Mary's High product said she's made a concerted effort to play harder the past two games and has amassed 14 rebounds in each of the two wins.

"I felt like I wasn't playing my game and bringing the things that I bring," Kenyon said. "Especially rebounding the ball; I've really focused on it."

Pacific's senior captain Kendall Rodriguez posted a career-high 27 points Sunday and said the Tigers are now focused on making the most of the opportunity that has been given to them.

"We know we have the talent and chemistry, so winning the whole thing is in the back of our heads, knowing that we're capable of that," Rodriguez said. "It's still really cool that we're one of the teams still playing at this point."